What are the issues for people affected by depression ?
Lack of knowledge, recognition and understanding:
Many people who are at risk of depression are simply not aware that depression is actually a real illness. Like any other illness, it requires treatment and time. If people are not educated about the symptoms of depressive illness, its commonality and avenues of help, how can they be expected to manage their illness, to seek help and support, or indeed recover from it?
Experts internationally have estimated that approximately 80% of suicides can be traced back to depression. Depressive illness can be fatal, in severe, un-recognised or un-treated cases.
Stigma
The stigma which still surrounds mental illness is another devastating result of lack of education about mental health. Stigma results from ignorance, lack of information and fear – and it only contributes to sufferers’ sense of isolation and shame.
For further information on stigma click here
Key concerns in relation to the services for people with depression include:
- Lack of continuity of care
- Lack of choice of consultant
- Little opportunity in consultation for family involvement and input
- Insufficient opportunity for psychological or cognitive treatments
- Lack of child and adolescent psychiatric services.
For further information on depression, visit www.aware.ie
For further information please visit Recover.ie.